About Us

In response to the first appropriation of what turned out to be a $1.3 billion federal investment in the construction of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, the Oklahoma Legislature provided the statutory authority for the creation of port authorities. Accordingly, the City of Muskogee and the Board of County Commissioners for Muskogee County created the Muskogee City-County Port Authority.

In similar fashion, the City of Tulsa and Rogers County created the Tulsa Port of Catoosa. With the establishment of the new port authorities and in collaboration with their respective Chambers of Commerce and Metropolitan Area Planning Commissions, port sites were evaluated and selected, development plans were adopted and construction funds were provided by the issuance of general obligation limited tax bonds approved by the tax payers within each of the respective political subdivisions.

The federal investment in the multi-purpose waterway has proven to be a wise investment, saving billions of dollars in flood damages, providing low cost electricity at hydropower generation facilities, supplying industries and municipalities with dependable water supply, delivering substantial transportation savings to shippers of waterborne commerce, and providing untold quality of life benefits to those who live, work and play on the lakes and rivers of northeastern Oklahoma.

On the land side, the attraction of port and industrial development along the waterway has been most impressive. Along the Oklahoma segment alone, the public and private non-federal investment stands today at nearly $5 billion. More than 6,000 people are employed at some 85 industries along the waterway. Those industries employ more than 6,000 people and contribute more than $300 million to local payrolls annually.

The Mission of the Muskogee City-County Port Authority is to promote the optimum development of port facilities and activities to ensure the continued viability of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System and to encourage the retention, expansion and location of industry for the benefit of the City of Muskogee, Muskogee County and the State of Oklahoma.

In support of its mission, and through the activities of its Business and Economic Development Office, commonly referred to as Muskogee Development, the Muskogee City-County Port Authority works in partnership with the City of Muskogee to implement an economic development program designed to increase business investment and job opportunities in the Muskogee area.